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Title:	Shear Unzipping of DNA
Author:	Chakrabarti, Buddhapriya; Nelson, David R. Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors.
Citation:	Chakrabarti, Buddhapriya and David Nelson. 2009. Shear unzipping of DNA. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 113(12): 3831-3836.
Full Text & Related Files:	0904.1611v1.pdf (293.4Kb; PDF)
Abstract:	We study theoretically the mechanical failure of a simple model of double stranded DNA under an applied shear. Starting from a more microscopic Hamiltonian that describes a sheared DNA, we arrive at a nonlinear generalization of a ladder model of shear unzipping proposed earlier by deGennes [deGennes P. G. C. R. Acad. Sci., Ser. IV; Phys., Astrophys. 2001, 1505]. Using this model and a combination of analytical and numerical methods, we study the DNA "unzipping" transition when the shearing force exceeds a critical threshold at zero temperature. We also explore the effects of sequence heterogeneity and finite temperature and discuss possible applications to determine the strength of colloidal nanoparticle assemblies functionalized by DNA.
Published Version:	doi:10.1021/jp808232p
Other Sources:	http://arxiv.org/abs/0904.1611
Terms of Use:	This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Open Access Policy Articles, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#OAP
Citable link to this page:	http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:7467753

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  Peer reviewed scholarly articles from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University

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